Advancing Decent Work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia

With an initial focus on the garment and textile industries, the ILO has launched a comprehensive and coordinated programme involving ILO’s key components (BetterWork, Vision Zero Fund, SCORE, LABADMIN and INWORK) to promote decent work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia. The textile and garment industry is one of the priorities of the Ethiopian Government under the Growth and Transformation plan (GTPII) in the move of lifting Ethiopia to a middle-income country by 2025. However, poor working conditions resulting in low productivity, high turnover and absentee as well as weak regulatory institutions, coupled with the limited capacity of the workers’ and employers’ organisations, creates a poorly functioning labour market and uncompetitive businesses. More

Voices from the factory

I started looking for a job with my profession and even though the Disability Association encourages companies to give priority to disabled people, I was not able to find any job. when i applied for this job,they tested my ability to move around without much support especially in cases of accidents. The Manager was very happy with me and hired me immediately.

My husband works in Hawassa so I decided to find a job here. My husband is now sick and cannot work. I am currently providing for all my family. I wake up around 4am to prepare food for my husband and kids before heading to the factory.

After graduation, I spent 4 month looking for a job and I was not able to find one. I found one job but it was in the rural parts of Afar and my family didn’t want me to go. my mom was happy when i found this job because it means i will stay with her. I still live with my mom and I support her as much as possible to help her run her restaurant whist working full time in this factory .